The circus is coming to town for the first presidential debate, Wednesday at DU. In addition to the actual reporting teams from all branches of the national media, expect national cable shows hoping to draw a local crowd.

Eliot Spitzer’s Current TV show, “Viewpoint,” will beam live from Denver Tuesday evening, followed by his debate with Glenn Beck at the Fillmore. Ideologues in a public rumble, and charging money!

MSNBC is sending the troops to an outdoor set on the DU campus, where “The Daily Rundown,” “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” “The Cycle,” “Martin Bashir” and “Hardball with Chris Matthews” will hold forth, live so that people can wave and act like idiots in the background. “The Ed Show” is holding a public viewing party at Govnr’s Park on Tuesday during the show; with an Ed meet-and-greet in person after the show wraps.

MSNBC’s anchors for the convention will change hourly during the day. Visitors are encouraged to check out the set in front of Union Station (with giveaways and prizes to encourage a crowd). The schedule:

[photopress:Decision_2008_LOGO.jpg,thumb,pp_image]

6 a.m.-11 a.m. ET: “Morning Joe” from Sam’s No. 3 Grill and Bar

11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET: Dan Abrams anchors from the set outside Union Station

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.